DRDGOLD hoping new technology will improve gold recovery

Thu Aug 27 2026

DRDGOLD is advancing the use of an up-flow reactor (UFR) at its Far West Gold Recoveries (FWGR) DP2 plant, with the technology showing promise for improving gold recovery and potentially reducing cyanide consumption.

The UFR processes gold-bearing slurry after the carbon-in-leach stage by pumping material upward through a vertical chamber. DRDGOLD expects the technology could improve recovery rates and reaction kinetics, but CEO Niel Pretorius said the company will not change its production forecasts or guidance until the reactor demonstrates its contribution under real-world operating conditions.

The UFR forms part of the DP2 plant expansion, which will double FWGR processing capacity from 600,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes.

DRDGOLD’s Vision 2028 programme, valued at approximately R10 billion, aims to increase combined throughput at Ergo and FWGR and raise annual gold production towards 6 tonnes by 2028. More than R5 billion has already been invested.

The DP2 smelt house was commissioned on 14 July 2026, with the first gold bar poured. The remaining DP2 plant is expected to be commissioned during the current quarter.

At Ergo, the Daggafontein tailings storage facility has begun commissioning and is achieving the targeted 25,000 tonnes per day deposition rate. The R3 billion Withok tailings dam remains subject to environmental and other regulatory approvals.

At FWGR, the Regional Tailings Storage Facility (RTSF) is an 800-million-tonne facility, with approximately two-thirds already constructed at a cost of about R3.4 billion.

Source: https://www.miningweekly.com/